Readers throughout the community voted for their favorite businesses, services and venues. Now, we are excited to present the 2025 gold, silver and bronze diamond award winners!
Browse the list to see if your favorites are there, and make a note of any new businesses you’d like to check out.
Congratulations to all of our winners!
HEALTH + BEAUTY
BEST SALON
Gold: Hush Hair Lash Brow
Silver: Tone Hair Salon
Bronze: Jill’s Beach
BEST HAIR SALON
Gold: Hush Hair Lash Brow
Silver: Tone Hair Salon
Bronze: Lux Salon
BEST DENTIST
Gold: Renaissance Dental Center
Silver: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
Bronze: Wells Family Dental Group
BEST ORTHODONTIST
Gold: North Carolina Oral Surgery + Orthodontics
Silver: Wells Orthodontics
Bronze: Gladwell Orthodontics (tie)
Raleigh Orthodontics (tie)
BEST DOCTOR
Gold: Dr. Bhavna Vaidya, Regenesis MD
Silver: Avance Care
Bronze: Carolina Total Wellness (tie)
Wake Internal Medicine Consultants (tie)
BEST OBGYN
Gold: Kamm McKenzie OBGYN
Silver: Arbor OBYGN
Bronze: Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness
BEST FUNCTIONAL AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
Gold: Dr. Bhavna Vaidya, Regenesis MD
Silver: Carolina Total Wellness
Bronze: Laura Varga
BEST PERIODONTIST
Gold: North Raleigh Periodontics & Implant Center
Silver: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
Bronze: Raleigh Periodontics and Implant Dentistry
BEST PEDIATRICIAN
Gold: Raleigh Children and Adolescents Medicine
Silver: HealthPark Pediatrics (tie)
Raleigh Pediatric Associates (tie)
Bronze: Jeffers, Mann & Artman Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (tie)
Oberlin Pediatrics (tie)
BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST
Gold: Lane & Associates Family Dentistry
Silver: Midtown Pediatric Dentistry
Bronze: Wake Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry
BEST DERMATOLOGIST
Gold: Central Dermatology Center
Silver: Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates
Bronze: Midtown Dermatology (tie)
Southern Dermatology (tie)
BEST COSMETIC SURGEON
Gold: Blue Water Spa
Silver: Lyle Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics Center
Bronze: Care Plastic Surgery (tie)
Raleigh Plastic Surgery Center (tie)
BEST MED SPA
Gold: Regenesis MD
Silver: Blue Water Spa
Bronze: The MedSpa
BEST MASSAGE
Gold: The Now Massage
Silver: Woodhouse Spa
Bronze: Skin Sense
BEST SUNLESS TANNING
Gold: Oak City Sunless
Silver: Jill’s Beach
Bronze: Gilded Spray Tans
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Gold: Care Chiropractic & Acupuncture
Silver: Osborne Chiropractic Clinic
Bronze: The Joint Chiropractic
BEST PSYCHIATRIST
Gold: GPW Psychiatry
Silver: Breyta Psychological Services (tie)
Thriveworks (tie)
Bronze: Casey Mental Health Collaborative
BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER
Gold: Calhoun Psychology
Silver: Birch Therapy
Bronze: LifeStance Health
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY
Gold: Erbst OrthoSport Physical Therapy
Silver: Epic Physical Therapy (tie)
Raleigh Orthopaedic (tie)
Bronze: My Potential
SPORTS + FITNESS
BEST COACH/PERSONAL TRAINER
Gold: May Performance
Silver: Mark McCoy
Bronze: Reggie Barnes (tie)
Bill Burniston (tie)
BEST WELLNESS COACH
Gold: Renu Health & Fitness
Silver: Crown Wellness Coaching
Bronze: Catalyst Health Coaching (tie)
Laura Haywood Coaching (tie)
BEST FITNESS GYM
Gold: Life Time Fitness
Silver: Planet Fitness
Bronze: O2 Fitness
BEST CYCLE STUDIO
Gold: CycleBar
Silver: Taylor Family YMCA
Bronze: Studio Volare
BEST YOGA STUDIO
Gold: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
Silver: Dose Yoga and Smoothie Bar
Bronze: Midtown Yoga (tie)
YoBa Studio (tie)
BEST STRETCH STUDIO
Gold: StretchLab
Silver: Stretch Zone
Bronze: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
BEST YOGA/PILATES STUDIO
Gold: Gratitude Hot Yoga Center
Silver: Club Pilates
Bronze: YoBa Studio
MEDIA PERSONALITIES
BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY
Gold: Erica DeLong, G105
Silver: Ross Hayes, 106.1 FM TALK
Bronze: Mike Wheless and Amanda Daughtry, 94.7 QDR
BEST LOCAL TV PERSONALITY
Gold: Don “Big Weather” Schwenneker, ABC11
Silver: Elizabeth Gardner, WRAL
Bronze: Debra Morgan, WRAL
BEST LOCAL INFLUENCER
Gold: The Life Projects
Silver: Leda Fazal
Bronze: Magnolia Megan
ENTERTAINMENT
BEST MOVIE THEATER
Gold: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Silver: Cinemark Bistro
Bronze: Paragon Theaters – Fenton
BEST MUSIC VENUE
Gold: Red Hat Amphitheater
Silver: Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Bronze: Koka Booth Amphitheatre
BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE
Gold: Durham Performing Arts Center
Silver: Theatre in the Park
Bronze: Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES
Gold: Quail Ridge Books
Silver: Page 158 Books
Bronze: So & So Books
BEST PLACE FOR GAMES AND AMUSEMENT
Gold: Boxcar Bar + Arcade
Silver: Frankie’s (tie)
Strike and Barrel (tie)
Bronze: Adventure Landing
CULTURE
BEST MUSEUM
Gold: North Carolina Museum of Art
Silver: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Bronze: Marbles Kids Museum (tie)
Museum of Life + Science (tie)
BEST PARK OR RECREATION CENTER
Gold: Pullen Park
Silver: Downtown Cary Park
Bronze: Dorthea Dix Park
BEST GARDEN
Gold: JC Raulston Arboretum
Silver: Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Bronze: Raleigh Rose Garden
HOSPITALITY
BEST HOTEL OR BED AND BREAKFAST
Gold: Heights House Hotel
Silver: The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Bronze: The Mayton
BEST WEDDING OR EVENT VENUE
Gold: The Maxwell
Silver: Donovan Manor
Bronze: The Merrimon-Wynne House
BEST CATERING SERVICE
Gold: Donovan’s Dish
Silver: Rocky Top Catering
Bronze: Meez Market & Catering
FOOD + FARE
BEST BREAKFAST OR BRUNCH
Gold: Big Ed’s
Silver: First Watch
Bronze: Brigs Restaurants
BEST BARBECUE
Gold: City Barbeque
Silver: Longleaf Swine
Bronze: Prime Barbecue
BEST BURGER
Gold: Char-Grill
Silver: MoJoe’s Burger Joint
Bronze: Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
BEST PIZZA
Gold: Salvio’s Pizzeria
Silver: Oakwood Pizza Box
Bronze: Lilly’s Pizza (tie)
Milton’s Pizza & Pasta (tie)
BEST STEAKHOUSE
Gold: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
Silver: Angus Barn
Bronze: The Capital Grille
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
Gold: Gonza Tacos y Tequila
Silver: La Rancherita Grill & Tequila Bar
Bronze: Dos Taquitos (tie)
Gym Tacos (tie)
BEST ITALIAN FOOD
Gold: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
Silver: Café Tiramisu (tie)
Vic’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria (tie)
Bronze: Bella Monica (tie)
Farina Neighborhood Italian (tie)
BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD
Gold: Sassool
Silver: Taverna Agora
Bronze: Aladdin’s Eatery
BEST SEAFOOD
Gold: Cape Fear Seafood Company
Silver: Brodeto
Bronze: 42nd St. Oyster Bar (tie)
Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern (tie)
BEST ASIAN FOOD
Gold: Kai Sushi & Sake Bar
Silver: Bida Manda
Bronze: Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
BEST INDIAN FOOD
Gold: Azitra Indian Culinary Nirvana
Silver: Bombay Curry
Bronze: Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar
BEST BAKERY/CONFECTIONER
Gold: La Farm Bakery
Silver: Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
Bronze: Edible Art Bakery & Dessert Cafe (tie)
Lucettegrace (tie)
BEST ICE CREAM
Gold: Goodberry’s Frozen Custard (tie)
Two Roosters (tie)
Silver: FRESH. Local Ice Cream
Bronze: Andia’s Ice Cream
BEST FOOD TRUCK
Gold: Gym Tacos
Silver: Cousins Maine Lobster
Bronze: Arepa Culture NC
BOOZE + BREWS
BEST COFFEEHOUSE
Gold: Sola Coffee
Silver: Jubala Coffee
Bronze: NoRa Cafe
BEST WINE BAR
Gold: Vita Vite
Silver: Barcelona Wine Bar
Bronze: Postino (tie)
Vinos Finos Tapas and Wine Bar (tie)
BEST COCKTAIL BAR/LOUNGE
Gold: Sous Terre
Silver: Vinnie’s Steak House and Tavern
Bronze: Watts & Ward
BEST BREWERY
Gold: Lynnwood Brewing Concern
Silver: R&D Brewing
Bronze: Neuse River Brewing (tie)
Trophy Brewing Co. (tie)
BEST SPORTS BAR
Gold: Carolina Ale House
Silver: The Bison Bar
Bronze: Brickhouse (tie)
Sports & Social (tie)
BEST DISTILLERY
Gold: Raleigh Rum Company
Silver: Mystic Farm & Distillery
Bronze: East Bower Cider Co.
BEST ROOFTOP BAR
Gold: The Willard Rooftop Lounge
Silver: Level7
Bronze: 10th & Terrace (tie)
Highgarden (tie)
Taverna Agora (tie)
SHOPPING
BEST FLORIST
Gold: Fallon’s Flowers
Silver:The English Garden
Bronze: Gingerbread House Florist
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: Swagger Boutique
Silver: Kannon’s Clothing
Bronze: The Gatorbug Boutique (tie)
Uniquities (tie)
BEST RESALE AND CONSIGNMENT
Gold: Dress.
Silver: Mode Consignment Boutique
Bronze: Adore Designer Resale Boutique
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Gold: Liles Clothing Studio
Silver: Kannon Men’s Clothing
Bronze: Peter Millar (tie)
Ticknors Men’s Clothier (tie)
BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE
Gold: Furnish
Silver: Dexter Furniture
Bronze: Raleigh Furniture Gallery
BEST GARDEN CENTER
Gold: Homewood Nursery & Garden Center
Silver: Logan’s Garden Shop
Bronze: Atlantic Gardening
BEST JEWELRY STORE
Gold: Bailey’s Fine Jewelry
Silver: Brummitt Jewelry Design Studio
Bronze: Johnson’s Jewelers of Raleigh
BEST DESIGNER SHOE STORE
Gold: Main & Taylor
Silver: Rangoni Firenze
Bronze: Fleet Feet – North Raleigh
REAL ESTATE
BEST REAL ESTATE FIRM
Gold: Dash Carolina
Silver: Christina Valkanoff Realty Group
Bronze: Carolina Collective Realty (tie)
The Coley Group (tie)
Luxe Residential (tie)
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Gold: Lee Rand
Silver: Christina Valkanoff
Bronze: Jeanell Morton (tie)
Gretchen Coley (tie)
BEST BUILDER
Gold: Rufty Homes
Silver: Loyd Builders
Bronze: AR Homes (tie)
Paragon Building Group (tie)
BEST NEW HOME COMMUNITY
Gold: Shadow Creek Estates
Silver: Shinleaf Estates
Bronze: Serenity
BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Gold: Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community
Silver: Flowers Plantation
Bronze: Overture Centennial
HOME SERVICES
BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER
Gold: Lavish
Silver: Design by Tula (tie)
MA Allen Interiors (tie)
Bronze: Elizabeth O’Neal Interiors
BEST LANDSCAPING SERVICE
Gold: Mr. Mow It All (tie)
Precision Landscaping & Lawn (tie)
Silver: Genesis Outdoor Living
Bronze: Myatt Landscaping & Construction
BEST HOUSEKEEPING
Gold: Go 2 Girls
Silver: Best Clean Ever
Bronze: Dust and Mop
BEST HOME MAINTENANCE/REPAIR
Gold: Mr. Handyman
Silver: Alan’s Home Improvements
Bronze: Redbird Services Co.
BEST OUTDOOR SPACES
Gold: Rising Sun Pools & Spas
Silver: Aquatic Artists, Inc.
Bronze: Genesis Outdoor Living
BEST MOVERS AND STORAGE
Gold: All American Relocation
Silver: Little Guys Movers
Bronze: Moore Than Moving
BEST HOME FLOORING
Gold: Byrd Tile Distributors
Silver: JH Floor Co.
Bronze: Brentwood Flooring America
BEST KITCHEN AND BATH FIXTURES
Gold: R. Jacobs Fine Plumbing & Hardware
Silver: Kitchen & Bath Galleries
Bronze: Splash Galleries
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
BEST FINANCIAL SERVICES/WEALTH MANAGEMENT
Gold: Absher Wealth Management
Silver: Ameriprise Financial
Bronze: Peace of Mind Wealth Management
BEST LOCAL BANKING INSTITUTION
Gold: First Citizens Bank
Silver: State Employees’ Credit Union
Bronze: Coastal Credit Union
BEST LAW FIRM
Gold: Brady Boyette
Silver: Midtown Law
Bronze: Cotten Law Firm (tie)
Gene Davis Law (tie)
BEST LOCAL ACCOUNTANT/TAX ADVISOR
Gold: R. Scott Grady
Silver: TaxCom
Bronze: Brilliant Numbers
BEST TRAVEL AGENCY
Gold: DWB Vacations
Silver: Eze2Travel
Bronze: AAA – Apex (tie)
Trip and Sip Travel (tie)
AUTOMOTIVE
BEST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR
Gold: Creech Import Repair
Silver: King’s Auto Service
Bronze: Modern Service
BEST CAR WASH/DETAIL
Gold: Oak City Auto Detailing
Silver: Barnes Auto Detailing
Bronze: Zips Car Wash
BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP
Gold: Leith
Silver: Fred Anderson
Bronze: Hendrick
BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP
Gold: Belmonte Auto Imports
Silver: Auction Direct USA
Bronze: Leith
EDUCATION
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL
Gold: Trinity Academy
Silver: Ravenscroft School
Bronze: Cardinal Gibbons High School (tie)
Grace Christian School (tie)
BEST PERFORMING ARTS EDUCATION
Gold: Raleigh Little Theatre
Silver: North Raleigh Christian Academy
Bronze: Grace Christian School (tie)
Longleaf School of the Arts (tie)
BEST PRESCHOOL
Gold: Primrose School
Silver: St. Mark’s Preschool
Bronze: Grace Christian School
BEST TUTORING SERVICE
Gold: The Burke Learning Center
Silver: Mathnasium
Bronze: Raleigh Tutoring (tie)
Sylvan Learning (tie)
PETS
BEST VETERINARIAN
Gold: Armadale Animal Hospital
Silver: Complete Pet Care Animal Hospital
Bronze: Bayleaf Veterinary Hospital
BEST PET PAMPERING SERVICE
Gold: Grooming by Greicis
Silver: Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
Bronze: Dirty Dogs Spa
BEST PET BOARDING/DAYCARE SERVICES
Gold: Raleigh Pet Sitters
Silver: Complete Pet Care Animal Hospital
Bronze: North Raleigh Pet Nanny (tie)
Triangle Pet Resort (tie)
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Gold: Oak City Cares
Beginning with our 2022 Diamond Awards, Midtown began honoring a local nonprofit doing good work for our community. This year we are recognizing Oak City Cares, an organization that connects people at risk of or experiencing homelessness with coordinated services that create a path to stable housing and renewed hope. Learn more about what they do at oakcitycares.org.
